in·struct

verb

/ɪnˈstrʌkt/

Verb Forms

present simple I / you / we / they instruct	/ɪnˈstrʌkt/ /ɪnˈstrʌkt/
he / she / it instructs	/ɪnˈstrʌkts/ /ɪnˈstrʌkts/
past simple instructed	/ɪnˈstrʌktɪd/ /ɪnˈstrʌktɪd/
past participle instructed	/ɪnˈstrʌktɪd/ /ɪnˈstrʌktɪd/
-ing form instructing	/ɪnˈstrʌktɪŋ/ /ɪnˈstrʌktɪŋ/

(formal) to tell somebody to do something, especially in a formal or official way指示；命令；吩咐 synonym direct, order
- instruct somebody to do something The letter instructed him to report to headquarters immediately.那封信指示他立即向总部汇报。
- instruct somebody where, what, etc… You will be instructed where to go as soon as the plane is ready.飞机一准备好就会通知你去何处。
- instruct somebody She arrived at 10 o'clock as instructed.她依照指示于 10 点钟到达。
- instruct that… He instructed that a wall be built around the city.他下令在城的周围筑一道城墙。
- (British English also) He instructed that a wall should be built around the city.他下令在城的周围筑一道城墙。
- instruct (somebody) + speech ‘Put it there,’ she instructed (them).“把它放在那儿。”她吩咐（他们）道。
Synonyms order
ordertell ▪ instruct ▪ direct ▪ commandThese words all mean to use your position of authority to say to somebody that they must do something.
order to use your position of authority to tell somebody to do something:
The company was ordered to pay compensation to its former employee.公司被勒令向以前的员工作出补偿。
‘Come here at once!’ she ordered.“马上过来！”她命令道。
tell to say to somebody that they must or should do something:
He was told to sit down and wait.有人吩咐他坐下等着。
Don’t tell me what to do!别对我指手画脚的！
instruct (rather formal) to tell somebody to do something, especially in a formal or official way:
The letter instructed him to report to headquarters immediately.那封信指示他立即向总部汇报。
direct (formal) to give an official order:
The judge directed the jury to return a verdict of not guilty.法官指示陪审团作出无罪裁决。
command to use your position of authority to tell somebody to do something:
He commanded his men to retreat.他命令手下撤退。
order or command?Order is a more general word than command and can be used about anyone in a position of authority, such as a parent, teacher or government telling somebody to do something. Command is slightly stronger than order and is the normal word to use about an army officer giving orders, or in any context where it is normal to give orders without any discussion about them. It is less likely to be used about a parent or teacher.Patterns
- to order/tell/instruct/direct/command somebody to do something
- to order/instruct/direct/command that…
- to do something as ordered/told/instructed/directed/commanded
Extra Examples
- I took the pills as instructed.我按照说明服药。
- You were explicitly instructed to wait here.已明确告诉你就在此等候。
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adverb
- carefully
- explicitly
- specifically
- …
phrases
- as instructed
instruct somebody (in something) (formal) to teach somebody something, especially a practical skill教授，传授（技能等）
- All our staff have been instructed in sign language.我们的员工都接受过手语训练。
[usually passive] (formal) to give somebody information about something告知；通知
- be instructed that… We have been instructed that a decision will not be made before the end of the week.我们已获悉周末前不会作出决定。
instruct somebody (to do something) (law) to employ somebody to represent you in a legal situation, especially as a lawyer委托（律师）；托办

Word Originlate Middle English (in sense (2)): from Latin instruct- ‘constructed, equipped, taught’, from the verb instruere, from in- ‘upon, towards’ + struere ‘pile up’.